Northern Health is monitoring its supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic and has set up a new system for dealing with potential donations as community members look for a place to help frontline workers.

While recent weeks have seen dramatic increases in PPE supply use around the province, B.C. does continue to receive new supply of PPE, explains Eryn Collins, Northern Health’s regional manager of media relations and public affairs. She says in the last few weeks, orders have come in from various suppliers, including N95 masks, surgical masks, gowns, eye protection and other PPE that are critical to keeping health care workers safe.

“All health authorities, including Northern Health, are actively monitoring our supplies, and, provincially, there are measures in place to control the use of PPE and be more efficient and effective with current stock,” says Collins.

Northern Health has established an email for managing donation offers at ppe.donation@northernhealth.ca. People can send details of their offer through this email address so NH can determine if the item(s) can be used in a health care setting and handle other logistics.

“We have had and are extremely grateful for the many offers we’ve received from individuals and organizations who want to donate — whether that’s protective equipment, financial support or offers of their time,” says Collins.

Any donated items must be unused and unopened. NH is not accepting homemade items at this time, and they are asking that people please do not drop off items at NH facilities without permission.

READ MORE: COVID-19: Northern Health moving into next phases of pandemic planning

Quesnel Cariboo Observer